Between 2020 and 2021, the volume of parcels delivered in France increased by 14.9%, reflecting constant growth in the logistics sector. Against this backdrop, adopting a multi-carrier delivery strategy is becoming an essential solution for reducing costs. This article explores the benefits of this approach to optimizing your deliveries while controlling your costs.

What is multi-carrier delivery?

Multi-carrier delivery involves using several service providers to ship your goods, choosing the most appropriate carrier for each order. This choice is based on several criteria:

• Delivery times: choose a carrier capable of delivering within the required timeframe.
• Collection and delivery times: adapt your choice of carrier to the time slots available.
• Reliability: select service providers recognized for their reliability.
• Associated costs: opt for the best value for money.

What are the advantages of a multi-carrier strategy?

By diversifying carriers, you can improve delivery quality while reducing operational costs. Here are 5 reasons why it's right for your business.

1. Improve transport system reliability

By using multiple carriers, you increase the reliability of your supply chain. The flexibility offered by this approach enables you to meet customers' expectations by offering them more choice for the delivery of their products: delivery location, carrier and mode of transport.

Example: an e-commerce site can offer its customers the choice of fast delivery with an express carrier or a more economical option with another service provider. This not only improves the customer experience, but also builds customer loyalty.

Good to know: you can also call on experts for specific deliveries, such as fragile or bulky products. For example, a carrier specialized in works of art will offer a better guarantee of safety for delicate shipments.

2. Streamline the volume of goods delivered

Distributing goods volumes among different carriers helps to better manage logistics flows and avoid overloads. This reduces the risk of delays and malfunctions in the supply chain.

During order peaks, such as sales periods, a company can divide shipments between several carriers to avoid saturation of a single provider. This approach ensures that orders are delivered on time, even when demand is high.

Good to know: an optimized, well-balanced supply chain helps avoid bottlenecks, which can translate into lower storage costs and better management of product returns.

3. Optimize order circuits

Choosing the most suitable carrier for each shipment helps to reduce transport costs while optimizing routes. For example, some carriers offer lower rates for short distances, while others specialize in the transport of bulky parcels.

Example: an online retailer could use a local carrier for deliveries within its region, while using a national carrier for long-distance shipments. This reduces transport costs according to the distance involved.

Delegating your logistics to a 4PL provider can help you negotiate better rates with carriers. These professionals have the expertise needed to obtain more advantageous conditions, especially for international shipments.

4. Reduce shipping times

By using several carriers, you can choose the one offering the shortest delivery time, which often translates into lower costs. A carrier close to the final destination will be able to deliver faster, thus limiting transport costs.

When an order is urgent, you can opt for an express carrier. If the usual carrier is unavailable, another service provider can be called in immediately, reducing the risk of delay.

Good to know: many carriers offer additional services such as real-time parcel tracking or simplified returns management, which can improve customer satisfaction while reducing the costs associated with logistical problems.

5. Minimize costs by limiting risks

Having a diversified network of carriers enables you to deal with unforeseen events, such as the unavailability of a service provider or unfavorable weather conditions. In the event of a problem with one carrier, another can take over, ensuring continuity of deliveries.

Example: a company specializing in fresh produce can avoid the disruption caused by vehicle breakdowns or strikes by using several carriers to make refrigerated deliveries.

This diversification of carriers enables you to negotiate rates more effectively, and reduce the additional costs associated with unforeseen events. In this way, you can prevent interruptions in the supply chain from generating additional costs.

The benefits of multiple transport providers: points to remember

Adopting a multi-carrier delivery strategy offers numerous advantages for reducing your logistics costs while improving the quality of your services. By diversifying your service providers, you gain in flexibility, reliability and efficiency. What's more, this approach avoids the risk of overloading and improves customer satisfaction through better order management.

Set up a solid network of specialized, competent carriers to benefit from these advantages, while ensuring that your supply chain remains efficient and adaptable to market changes.

At D&fiGroupe, we work with a vast network of specialized carriers to offer you logistics solutions tailored to your specific needs. Our expertise means you benefit from competitive rates, optimized lead times and seamless delivery management.

Contact us today to find out how we can help you optimize your deliveries and reduce your costs!